Close-fitting sports garment

ABSTRACT

Sports garment adapted to cover at least one limb or body member, such garment including a textile base primarily worn in close contact with the body and including a compression zone surrounding the limb/member, the compression zone including at least one film affixed to the textile base, the film including a plurality of openings. The compression zone includes at least one exclusive compression zone and at least one postural support zone, the yield strength of the garment portion forming the postural support zone being greater than that of the garment portion forming the exclusive compression zone, along at least one direction of bias.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon French patent application Ser. No. 10/02511, filed Jun. 14, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to close-fitting sports garments and, more particularly, garments intended for activities requiring postural support. Postural support is particularly important for endurance sports such as, for example, foot races on mountainous and rugged terrain, tennis, cycling, Nordic skiing and alpine skiing. The invention also has application in other sports, such as those requiring balance, including water sports.

2. Background Information

The patent document FR 2 889 033 and family member U.S. Pat. No. 7,886,367 disclose close-fitting sports garments having portions comprised of a laminate composite, one of the layers of which is elastic and comprises a plurality of cuts. A garment of this type improves blood circulation and facilitates recovery after an intense activity but provides insufficient muscular support.

It is known from WO 98/36652 and family member U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,773 to manufacture close-fitting garments from an elastic base fabric, such as Lycra®, onto which elastic resistance bands are sewn. These bands provide elastic resistance to movement so as to assist in building the muscles of the body. Because the purpose of the garment relates to building the muscles, it is constructed to provide resistance to the muscles rather than to maintain postural support.

The document U.S. Pat. No. 7,631,367 also discloses a sports garment that includes bands glued or sewn onto the fabric, which are intended to store part of the energy produced by the muscles during movement and to restore it during the next opposite movement. Such bands are narrow and small in size relative to the length, that is, between 1 cm and 5 cm, because wider bands, which would encircle a thigh or an arm, for example, would provide too much resistance and would hinder rather than help the athlete.

Prior art documents disclose sports garments designed for joggers or runners and intended for sports that are practiced on a flat terrain, running tracks, roads, etc., such sports requiring little or no postural support. Thus, the garments are not suitable for sports requiring such support and, in particular, for the new practice of trail running, or trail racing, in particular on mountainous or rugged terrain.

Trail-running is characterized in it takes place in rough environments having portions with steep ascending grades and portions with steep descending grades. In the ascent, the muscular energy developed is power energy that requires good blood circulation with optimum venous return but also good ventilation of the body. In the descent, the muscular energy developed is primarily directed towards postural support. That is, the athlete must maintain his or her posture with every step, in order not to bend down and risk losing his or her balance of the body, which results in additional energy expenditure to compensate for this imbalance. The balance of the body is directly linked to the position of the athlete's center of gravity. With postural support, the position of the center of gravity varies less, which is beneficial for the balance of the body. When running, the athlete adds a dynamic balance linked to his or her inertia. This is what makes the difference between walking on the descent, wherein a relative bending of the posture at every step makes it possible to soften the footstep landing, and running on the descent, in which such bending is much less. Therefore, also when running, poor postural support leads to a substantial variation in the center of gravity which requires additional energy expenditure, as the dynamic balance does not fully compensate for this oscillation.

Trail-running is further characterized in that the participants run on a wide variety of terrains, including rocks, screes, sand, grass, dirt, mud, etc., but also in that such terrains are generally not flat, and are strewn with rocks, roots, ruts, puddles, etc. Adjusting to this variety of terrains and obstacles is taxing not only on the feet, as is the case with traditional jogging, but on the entire body which is constantly required to maintain balance, regardless of the local inclination of the terrain.

Because the sports of trail-running and trail-racing having only very recently come into existence, specific products therefor have not yet been developed.

The problems of balance and the need for compression are also found in endurance sports and/or sports requiring balance, as mentioned above. In mountain hiking or randonnée, the constraints related to the ascent and descent are similar.

SUMMARY

The invention encompasses garments, particular sports garments, that enable the athlete to overcome the drawbacks of existing garments and, more particularly, garments that offer an optimal compromise between compression, ventilation, and postural support.

Particular types of such garments are structured to be particularly adapted to the practice of trail-running.

In particular embodiments, the invention provides a sports garment adapted to cover at least one body member or limb of a user, the garment including a textile base that is essentially worn in contact with the body and including a compression zone surrounding the aforementioned member or limb, the compression zone including at least one film affixed to the textile base, the film including a plurality of openings. The compression zone includes an exclusive compression zone and a postural support zone. The yield strength of the garment portion forming the postural support zone is greater than that of the garment portion forming the exclusive compression zone along at least one direction of bias.

The postural support zone, combined with an exclusive compression zone, reinforces the support of the body. Thus, this construction enables the user to maintain a good posture during exertion. In this posture, the joints are properly aligned, thereby balancing the stresses they undergo. The wearer does not suffer from excessive pressure in the area of the neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees, or ankles. Consequently, the articulations are less biased, which improves the amplitude of movement, flexibility, as well as the functioning of the internal organs. The alignment of the head (ears), shoulders, hips, and ankles contributes to the stability of the body. This postural stabilization enables better guiding of the limbs during movement.

In the compression zone, the garment supports the external and internal muscles, the ligaments and the tendons, which are determining elements in the posture of the user. Postural support prevents bending down and therefore provides balance, stability, and movement control. Improving these three characteristics substantially improves the performance of the user by reducing fatigue.

Indeed, because the internal muscles support the spine, the shoulders and the pelvis directly affect the stability of the body.

The garment also provides muscle stability, which results in a limitation of internal vibrations, especially in the area of the muscles and joints.

According to the invention, there are two distinct compression zones, whose compressive characteristics vary.

The first compression zone, called the circulatory zone, is comprised of the body parts located below the waistline. A particular purpose of this zone, in addition to stability, is to improve blood circulation and, in particular, blood return. For the garments, a compression of 10 to 20 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) is sought. Garments targeted for the first compression zone are shorts or leggings.

The second compression zone, called the detection zone, is comprised of the parts located above the waistline. A particular purpose for this zone is proprioception. In this area, the compression zone acts as a sensor that informs the user of changes in his or her posture. Postural support is preferred over compression. For the garments, a compression of 5 to 15 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) is sought. In a particular embodiment, or configuration, a compression in this second zone that corresponds substantially to half of the compression obtained in the first zone is sought. Garments targeted for the second compression zone are T-shirts or shorts.

In this second compression zone, the internal muscles of the abdominals and lower back are responsible for the body's sensitivity to the spatial location of the person. For example, when one loses balance, these internal muscles in the area of the “deep” spinal layers, can react quickly to adjust the weight distribution in order to regain balance. The center of gravity of the body can be adjusted quickly as soon as the body detects an imbalance. Postural support limits the bending of the body and therefore the energy expenditure needed to compensate for the imbalance. The user saves strength to regain stability and uses less energy because fewer compensating movements are required to be made. Consequently, the athlete is less tired.

It is therefore interesting to support these internal muscles, for example, via a T-shirt and/or shorts according to the invention.

This garment structure also enables good proprioception throughout the body. The garment acts as a sensor array that enables the user to react when his/her body is weakening. The change in posture causes a local action on the garment that translates into a pronounced local pressure on the body, so as to alert the user of such a change. The user can then react quickly. This delays fatigue, as mentioned above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a three-quarters view of a trail-runner wearing three garment pieces according to first embodiments of the invention: a T-shirt, shorts, and a pair of leggings;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show front and rear views, respectively, of a T-shirt according to one of the first embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a portion of an exclusive compression zone;

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of a portion of a postural support zone;

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the worn garment, in the area of the postural support zone;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show front and rear views, respectively, of a pair of shorts according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the compression zone of a garment according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show front and rear views, respectively, of a legging according to one of the first embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 12 shows a detailed view of a portion of the postural support zone according to another embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a detailed view of a portion of a compression zone of a pair of shorts according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the compression zone of a garment according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A garment according to the invention includes zones in which a compression effect is obtained via a particular configuration. In a non-limiting configuration, the illustrated embodiment includes four zones, including the calf compression zone 4, the thigh compression zone 5, the chest compression zone 6, and the arm compression zone 7. Because the garments are right/left symmetrical, there is a right thigh zone and a left thigh zone, and similarly for the arm and the calf. However, for reasons of simplicity, reference is made hereafter to the thigh zone, the arm zone, and the leg zone. Moreover, the invention encompasses other compression zones, such as that in the area of the forearm, in the case of a long-sleeved T-shirt.

The T-shirt 1 in FIGS. 1 to 3 is comprised of a textile base 10 on which films are affixed in various locations. The textile base 10 is comprised of various primary panels, including a front panel 101, two side panels 102, a back panel 103, two sleeve panels 104, and a number of secondary panels, such as that used to make the neck 11. The primary panels can be assembled using one or more of various methods, such as sewing, gluing, or welding. The textile base can be woven or knitted. In the various embodiments described herein, the textile base is extensible and is obtained by knitting.

A first compression zone 6 is provided in the T-shirt 1, which is the chest compression zone surrounding the chest completely along a band 6 having an average width between 5 and 15 cm. In certain areas, such as the sternum, the local width of the band can be slightly less than 4 cm. However, a certain continuity of the compression band is still obtained so that the compression zone completely surrounds the body member concerned which, in this case, is the torso.

According to the invention, the compression zone is not uniform. It is divided into an exclusive compression zone 61, in which a compression effect is desired, and a rear postural support zone 62, which is less elastic.

In the compression zone, the pressure exerted on the surrounded body member is substantially uniform over the entire periphery, at a given height. Thus, whether it is in the exclusive compression zone 61 or in the rear postural support zone 62, the force exerted on the body member by the corresponding garment portion is equivalent. However, in the exclusive compression zone, the garment portion is more elastic and deforms to fit the morphology of the member, inducing a compression effect linked to the elasticity of the fabric. The expansion of the muscle is promoted in this zone. Conversely, in the postural support zone, the garment portion is stiffer, less extensible. The muscle extends little in this zone, which provides a muscular support effect.

The rear postural support zone 62 is obtained by gluing a textile film 12 on the back panel 103. The textile film can be laminated. The gluing is carried out, for example, by positioning a heat-meltable film between the textile panel and the textile film.

The exclusive compression zone 61 is obtained by gluing a polyurethane film 14 on the side panels 102 and on the front panel 101.

The yield strength of the glued textile film 12 is greater than that of the polyurethane film 14.

FIG. 4 shows a portion of the exclusive compression zone 61. In this embodiment, the polyurethane elastic film 14, which is glued to the textile base 10, is previously cut so as to provide a grille 17, or grid pattern, which surrounds a plurality of hexagonal openings 16. The elastic film 14 is arranged so that two opposite sides 16 h of the hexagon 16 are horizontal when the T-shirt is worn by the user. In this configuration, reference is made to a horizontal position of the grille formed by the elastic film. The polyurethane elastic film 14 is therefore characterized by a film including a plurality of openings 16. The distribution of these openings can be uniform, as is the case in FIG. 4, in which the cutouts reproduce a repetitive pattern. Alternatively, this distribution can be uneven, or non-repetitive. Patterns other than hexagonal patterns may be provided, such as diamond-shaped patterns, rectangle patterns, square patterns.

The size of the hexagons defined by the value C1 taken between two opposite sides of the hexagon, and the width L1 of the film portions defining the links of the grille surrounding them are selected so that the compromise between a restraining effect and aeration of the skin is optimized. In practice, the area of an opening 16 (portion of the textile base demarcated by the polyurethane film) is between 30 mm² and 200 mm², and, in a particular embodiment, between 60 and 170 mm².

Another way to determine the proper sizing of the patterns of the cuts and the width of the links of the grille is to consider the area percentage of the openings relative to the area percentage covered by the grille over a zone completely covered by the film 14. A repetitive cutting scheme can be selected such that the total area not covered by the film 14 is between 40% and 80% of the total area of the zone considered, when the garment is not worn.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of the rear postural support zone 62 showing the detail of the cuts arranged in the film 12 before it is glued. In this embodiment, the textile film 12 is a tight weave that is much less elastic than the textile base of the primary panel 10 constituting the T-shirt. The thickness of this film is between 5 and 30 μm, and, in a particular embodiment, between 10 and 15 μm. A plurality of cuts made by laser, for example, is provided in a repetitive scheme. The cuts can be chosen to be made in a hexagonal shape in view of the advantages offered by such a shape, although other shapes for the cuts are also within the scope of the invention, such as diamond-shapes, rectangles, squares. Reference is made here to a vertical position of the hexagons or of the grille because the textile film 12 is arranged so that two opposite sides 16 v of the hexagon are vertical when the T-shirt is worn by the user.

The size of the hexagons defined by the value C2 taken between two opposing sides of the hexagon, and the width L2 of the film portions defining the links of the grille surrounding them are selected to optimize the compromise between postural support, restraining effect, and skin ventilation. In practice, the area of an opening 16 (portion of the textile base demarcated by the polyurethane film) is between 30 mm² and 200 mm², and, in a particular embodiment, between 60 and 170 mm².

The width L2 of the film portions defining the links of the grille is between 1 and 7 mm, and, in a particular embodiment, between 1.5 and 5 mm. Another way to determine the proper sizing of the patterns of the cuts and the width of the links of the grille is to consider the surface area percentage of the openings relative to the surface area percentage covered by the grille in a zone completely covered by the textile film 12. A repetitive cutting scheme can be chosen such that the total surface area not covered by the film 12 is between 40% and 80% of the total area of the zone considered, when the garment is not worn.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the value C2 of the hexagons, taken between two opposite sides of a hexagon, is 10 mm. The width L2 of the film portions defining the links is equal to 3 mm. Thus, the surface area not covered corresponds to approximately 60% of the surface area of the postural support zone, and the surface area covered by the film 12 corresponds to about 40% of the surface area of the postural support zone.

These measurements are those taken while the garment is not worn, and as it is a garment structured and arranged to be adjusted to the wearer's body and to exert compression in certain areas, certain portions of the garment are stretched when it is worn. The average stretching of the garment, when it is on the user, can be between 5% and 25%. An optimum stretching, for a particular embodiment, is about 15%.

Alternatively, the orientation of the glued films 12 and 14 can be different within the scope of the invention.

For example, the garment can have an inverted configuration, that is, a vertical position of the hexagons or of the grille in the exclusive compression zone 61 and a horizontal position of the hexagons or of the grille in the postural support zone 62.

In the illustrated example, the textile base 10 is made by assembling at least two panels 101, 102, 103, 104. A first film 14 is affixed to a first panel 101, 102, 104 and a second film 12 is affixed to the second panel 103.

Alternatively, the orientations of the glued films are identical in the two zones 61, 62 (exclusive compression zone and postural support zone) either along a vertical position of the hexagons or of the grille, or along a horizontal position of the hexagons or of the grille.

FIG. 6 illustrates two particularly interesting effects of the device according to the invention. This is a detailed cross-sectional view of the worn garment, in the area of the rear postural support zone 62. When the garment is worn, the compressed regions 13 a of the skin 13 are compressed in the area of the portions of the back panel 103 that are covered by the film 12. The flexible regions 13 b of the skin 13 which are only covered by the back panel 103 have a certain freedom of movement, or ease, and, as can be seen, they may swell slightly. Thus, in these flexible regions 13 b, the skin can breathe better and be ventilated more easily because the physiological functions that manage the thermoregulation are not hampered by too much compression. The cuts allow for a better ventilation of the supported body member.

Furthermore, the compression effect is partial insofar as, unlike garments particularly adapted for medical or therapeutic use, it is not applied over the entire area of the muscle. Thus, it is a compression that is better suited to the practice of a sport requiring great ventilation to cool off the muscle heated by exertion.

A sports garment according to the invention, in a particular utilization, is worn directly on the user's skin, so that the compression, postural support, massage, and skin ventilation effects are maximal.

Another advantage related to these cuts or pieces is that of making the garment lighter. Good compression can be achieved without necessarily covering the entire compression zone with a compressive fabric. The cuts significantly reduce the weight of the garment, which is also important, particularly for the practice of endurance sports.

According to the invention, the compression zone in the area of the chest is formed by the exclusive compression zone 61 and the lower portion 63 of the rear postural support zone 62, the one which, in the alignment of the exclusive compression zone 61, constitutes a band that completely surrounds the chest. Attached to the circumference of the compression zone, the lower portion of the rear postural support zone corresponds to a portion ranging between 10% and 40% of the circumference of the compression zone. For a size “L” T-shirt whose girth is 76 cm, the width of the lower portion of the rear postural support zone is about 13 cm. In the illustrated example, for reasons of aesthetics, the cut patterns of the PU (polyurethane) film 14 are identical to those of the textile film 12 and give an impression of continuity.

The rear postural support zone 62 substantially forms an

shape, that is, it includes three portions, namely, a horizontal lower portion 63, a vertical central portion 64, and a horizontal upper portion 73. The lower portion 63 connects the two ends 61 a, 61 b of the exclusive compression zone 61 that are located in the back. Thus, as described above, the lower portion 63 of the rear postural support zone 62 and the exclusive compression zone 61 form the band constituting the compression zone of the chest. The rear postural support zone 62 rises along the spine, following a band 64 which connects the center of the lower portion 63 to the center of the upper portion 73. The upper portion corresponds to the postural support zone of the shoulders 73. The postural support zone of the shoulders 73 extends from the compression zone of the right arm 71 to the compression zone 72 of the left arm, passing in the vicinity of the neckline of the T-shirt. The compression zones of an arm extend from one shoulder and along the respective arm until reaching the end of the T-shirt. Advantageously, the compression zone of the right arm 71 and the compression zone of the left arm 72 are also connected by an exclusive compression zone passing via the front panel 101, just below the neck 10.

The choice of a glued elastic PU film for the exclusive compression zone and of a glued textile film for the postural support zone does not limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the exclusive compression zones and the postural support zones can be made in different ways. For example, the exclusive compression zone or the postural support zone can be made by printing, that is to say, by depositing a material in liquid or semi-paste form on a textile base according to a repetitive mesh scheme or the like. The postural support zone can also be obtained by affixing a PU film that is less elastic than that of the exclusive compression zone. In another embodiment, the textile base, the exclusive compression and postural support zones are entirely made by knitting. In this case, the knitting of the exclusive compression zone defines a mesh that tightens the garment by a certain factor relative to the remainder of the garment, and the support zone, included in the compression zone, defines a less elastic mesh.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are front and rear views, respectively, of a pair of shorts according to one of the embodiments of the invention. This is a close-fitting or snuggly fitting pair of shorts 2 for jogging, mainly produced by assembling various textile panels. For example, these textile panels can be made of a material similar to that sold under the trademark Lycra®. Any of a number of equivalent textile bases can be used in the context of the invention.

To facilitate understanding, the assembly of the various textile panels is not detailed in the drawing figures, except for the hems and the waistband.

According to the invention, the pair of shorts is improved by the presence of compression zones, including an exclusive compression zone and a postural support zone.

The compression zone of each thigh 5 is structured and arranged to transversely surround the entire limb, in this case the right or left thigh, or the largest portion thereof. Longitudinally, the compression zone covers much of the major muscles of the thigh, namely, the adductors, the hamstrings, and the quadriceps femoris. In practice, the longitudinal extension L5 of the compression zone of the thigh is between 5 and 40 cm, and, in a particular embodiment, between 8 and 30 cm. In this case, for a size “L” pair of shorts, the compression zone of the thigh extends over 20 cm.

The compression zone of the thigh 5 includes an exclusive compression zone 51, positioned on the front and back of the thigh, a thigh inner postural support zone 52, and the lower portion 54 of a thigh outer postural support zone 53. In this example, the thigh inner postural support zone 52 forms a triangle whose base corresponds to a portion of the circumference of the shorts in the area of the lower thigh, one side of which extends along the front of the thigh up to the upper thigh, and the third oblique side of which connects the apex of the triangle, located on the front portion of the shorts, to the end of the base, located at the rear of the shorts, in the area of the lower thigh.

Attached to the circumference of the compression zone, the inner and outer postural support zones of the thigh represent a proportion between 10% and 40% of the total circumference of the thigh compression zone, depending upon the height of this compression zone.

The thigh outer postural support zone 53 extends upward beyond the compression zone of the thigh 5. Associated with the inner postural support zone 52, it provides very good stability to the athlete's posture, especially when in the descent phase.

In a variation, or alternative embodiment, only an outer postural support zone 53 is positioned on the textile base, the inner zone being replaced by the extension of the exclusive compression zone 51. With such a pair of shorts, postural support remains but the compression aspect is preferred.

As for the T-shirt described above, the exclusive compression zone 51 is obtained by gluing an elastic film on the textile base. The film is cut along a repetitive scheme of diamond-shaped openings. The surface area of the zones not covered by the film is between 40 and 80% of the surface of the thigh exclusive compression zone 51.

The thigh outer postural support zone 53 and the thigh inner postural support zone 52 are made by gluing a film 12 onto the textile base 10. The textile film 12 is cut along a repetitive scheme so as to obtain a grille framing a plurality of diamond-shaped openings. The size of the diamond-shapes is slightly smaller than that of the diamond-shapes of the thigh exclusive compression zone 51, thus providing it with greater yield strength.

In a variation, or alternative embodiment, of the shorts of FIGS. 7 and 8, the thigh outer postural support zone 53 extends into the waistband 15.

FIG. 9 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a pair of shorts 2 according to another embodiment of the invention. The shorts are made in the same manner as the shorts described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 and include compression zones and postural support zones positioned in the same locations as those of the shorts of FIGS. 7 and 8. The difference lies in the shape of the openings arranged in the polyurethane elastic film of the exclusive compression zone and in the textile film of the postural support zones. These openings are identical in shape and size, that is, hexagonal, as those described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 9, the textile film 12 is positioned on the inner surface of the textile base, whereas the elastic film 14 is positioned on the outer surface.

Thus, the mesh film 12 which constitutes the postural support zone is in direct contact with the skin. This results in improved proprioception to help the user with properly balancing his or her posture, especially in the descent phase, for trail-running or for executing technical figures in other sporting activities.

Moreover, a different aesthetic effect is obtained, only the exclusive compression zones being visible (externally).

TABLE 1 Tension/textile Variation/ Variation/ base Tension/hexagon Force (N) textile base compression zone Shorts: textile base warp 2 alone weft 1.5 Shorts: warp Horizontal 5.5 × 2.8 compression zone weft Vertical 6.25 × 4.2 Shorts: support warp Horizontal 10 × 5 × 1.8 zone weft Vertical 9 × 6 × 1.4 Specimen 1: textile warp Vertical 7.75 × 3.9 base + PU film weft Horizontal 5.5 × 3.7 Specimen 2: textile warp Vertical 10 × 5 × 1.3 base + textile film weft Horizontal 10 × 6.7 × 1.8

Table 1 above gives various tensile measurements performed on the shorts of FIG. 8 and on two specimens. The measurement protocol is as follows: two layers of a portion of the shorts fixed to two clamping jaws 25 mm wide and separated from each other by a distance of 100 mm are subject to tension until an elongation of 15% is achieved. This tension force is measured in Newtons. Because the measurement is made on two layers, it is easier to perform non-destructive measurements on garments that are already made.

The shorts are made by assembling warp knitted textile panels positioned so that the warp threads extend vertically when the shorts are worn by the user. The hexagonal grille of the exclusive compression zones and of the postural support zones are arranged substantially vertically, which corresponds to the configuration detailed in FIG. 5. By a “horizontal” tension direction of a hexagon or of a grille pattern is meant the direction parallel to two opposite sides of the hexagon, and by a “vertical” tension direction of a hexagon or of a grille is meant the direction perpendicular to the “horizontal” direction. In the example involving the shorts, as shown in FIG. 13, the “horizontal” tension direction of a hexagon or of a grille corresponds to a substantially vertical direction of the shorts when they are worn. Thus, when the shorts are stretched along the thigh, that is, vertically, tension is exerted along the “horizontal” direction H of the hexagon or along the “warp” direction C of the textile base. Conversely, when a circumferential force is exerted in the area of the thighs, that is, transversely or horizontally, tension is exerted along the “vertical” direction V of the hexagon or along the “weft” direction T of the textile base. The circumferential force corresponds to the force obtained during a conventional compression of the thighs.

The specimens 1 and 2 are constituted by a textile base identical to that of the shorts on which an elastic PU film 14 and a textile film 12, respectively, are attached, such films being similar to those used for the shorts, but with the hexagonal mesh positioned so that the horizontal direction of the grille is parallel to the “warp” direction of the textile base.

The presence of the elastic PU film increases the tensile strength of the textile base in the transverse direction (“weft” direction) by a factor ranging between 2 and 7, and, in a particular embodiment, between 3 and 6. The increase in tensile strength due to the presence of the textile film for postural support is by a factor ranging between 3 and 9, and, in a particular embodiment, between 4 and 8 in the “warp” direction, as well as in the “weft” direction. For example, for the shorts shown in FIG. 8, this factor is 4.2 for the increase in the transverse tensile strength of the exclusive compression zone, and 6 and 5, respectively, for the increase in the transverse and vertical tensile strength of the postural support zone.

The postural support zone has greater tensile strength than the exclusive compression zone, in both vertical and horizontal directions, by a factor ranging between 1.1 and 3. In other words, the yield strength of the postural support zone is greater than that of the exclusive compression zone. The greater the yield strength, the more substantial the tension force to obtain a predetermined elongation.

The specimens 1 and 2 show that similar results can be achieved by changing the relative orientation of the hexagonal grille with respect to the “warp” direction of the textile base. In practice, to make a sports garment according to the invention, various textile panels having non-parallel “warp” directions and/or mesh films whose meshes have different orientations (see FIGS. 2-5) can be combined.

In one embodiment, a pair of shorts is comprised of a textile base, a first film in the exclusive compression zone and a second film in the postural support zone. The yield strength of the second film is 1.5 to 3 times greater than the yield strength of the first film, and, in a particular embodiment, two times greater. The yield strength of the first film is 1.5 to 3 times greater than the yield strength of the textile base, and, in a particular embodiment, two times greater. For a legging, the proportion between the yield strengths of the various materials can be transposed.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show front and rear views, respectively, of a legging 3 according to the invention. It is comprised of a textile base made by assembling various woven or knitted panels having a certain elasticity, on which a textile film 12, defining the calf postural support zone 42 positioned along the tibia, and an elastic film 14, defining a calf exclusive compression zone 41, are fixed.

According to the invention, the calf compression zone 4 surrounds the calf of the user and is formed by the juxtaposition of the calf exclusive compression zone 41 and of the calf postural support zone 42.

The alternatives described for the T-shirt apply, mutatis mutandis, to other embodiments directed to the shorts or leggings, and vice versa.

The sports garment according to the invention uses the same textile base 10, for example, Lycra®, to cover the body. In an exemplary embodiment, this textile base has elasticity and low compression in order to provide ease and comfort to the user. To obtain the exclusive compression zones and the postural support zones, the garment includes additional elements that provide the desired function: compression or support. Thus, in the absence of these additional elements, the garment that only includes a textile base exerts little or no pressure on the body under normal use. In a particular embodiment, the compression of such a garment, without a reinforcing element, is less than 5%. The patterning of the garment is such that it provides ease and comfort when worn.

As mentioned above, the additional elements may be a coating affixed to the fabric. This may involve gluing an elastic film 14 for the exclusive compression zone or a reinforcing film 12 for the postural support zone. It may also involve printing or impregnating an additional layer of a material having the desired elasticity or support properties. These techniques have the advantage of not adding additional seams and thus of limiting the risk of deterioration inherent in the seams being biased on a regularly basis. Moreover, reducing the number of seams undeniably brings about comfort of use (reduced friction, decreased risk of injury).

Whether for the exclusive compression zone or for the postural support zone, the coating (film or extra layer) includes a plurality of openings/cuts 16. These openings may take any shape. In the previous examples, they are hexagonal or diamond-shaped. The distribution of these openings in the exclusive compression zone or in the postural support zone can be random or uniform. In the latter case, these openings form the patterns of a repetitive scheme forming a grille. The openings allow for better ventilation of the garment and lighten the garment. The openings may be larger in the exogenous zones.

In these cases, a preliminary step is to make portions of a garment using a flexible patterning so that, when assembled, these portions form a conventional non-compressive or slightly compressive garment. This conventional garment can therefore be sized to provide maximum comfort to the user, for example by selecting materials and a cut that make it possible to have little or no compression on the body.

A method of making a sports garment according to this embodiment of the invention additionally includes affixing the proper coating on the textile base in the ad hoc zones. An exclusive compression zone is made. And a postural support zone is made. These actions can be performed at the time the portions of the garment are being made, that is to say, prior to assembling the various portions, or after the conventional garment has been made.

Alternatively, the additional element is knitted directly with the textile base. The additional element does not cover the entire textile base but is knitted so as to reproduce a grille similar to the previous coatings. The garment therefore has a plurality of zones only comprised of the textile base. These zones are surrounded by portions of the garment comprised of the additional element knitted with the textile base. These zones form the repeated patterns making the grille. The patterns may take any shape.

In any case, the number of seams can be reduced with respect to a reinforcing panel that would be sewn on or with panels of compressive fabric.

These various additional elements described above constitute as many alternatives forming a film affixed to a textile base.

The compression zone of the garment according to the invention surrounds the body member involved and includes an exclusive compression zone, as well as a postural support zone. According to an embodiment, this compression zone further includes a free zone comprised only of the textile base. The compression zone can therefore be formed by a juxtaposition or a succession of exclusive compression zone(s), postural support zone(s), and free zone(s). However, to actually obtain the desired compression in the area of the muscles, the free zone(s) must be small. In a particular embodiment, the free zone is less than 10% of the compression zone (of the periphery of the body member surrounded). Adding a free zone can provide additional comfort. For example, by positioning it in the area of the sternum, for a T-shirt, the user experiences less discomfort because compression is locally reduced in this area.

In another embodiment, the yield strength of the exclusive compression zones or of the postural support zones varies depending on the direction of bias. In particular embodiments, the yield strength is substantially uniform, irrespective of the direction of bias. However, it may be advantageous to favor a better yield strength along a specific direction of bias. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the postural support zone can have a low yield strength when this garment portion is biased longitudinally along a V direction, that is to say, when a force is exerted along the body member surrounded, and can have a high yield strength when the garment portion is biased transversely (perpendicular to the longitudinal force) along a direction H, that is to say, when a circumferential force is exerted. For example, for a pair of shorts, this provides good support to the muscles without hindering the amplitude of movement of the thigh. The yield strength may be wished to be increased in only one direction and to keep the yield strength of the textile base in the other directions of bias. These illustrations can be transposed to the exclusive compression zone.

To achieve this variation in yield strength, a simple solution is to use cutting patterns that make it possible to create this difference in behavior. FIG. 12 illustrates such a construction for the lateral postural support zone 53 of a pair of shorts 2. The textile film 12 glued to the textile base 10 includes a plurality of repeated hexagonal openings 16. Each opening 16 defines a link 18 of a grille forming the glued film. The width L of the film portions defining the links of the grille is not constant. For example, the two opposite horizontal links 18 a, 18 d of each link have a width L greater than that of the other four links 18 b, 18 c, 18 e, 18 f. Thus, when this portion of the postural support zone is biased along a horizontal direction H, it is more difficult for it to stretch due to the size of the patterns of the reinforcing film. The yield strength of this portion of the postural support zone is greater when it is biased along a horizontal direction H than when it is biased along a vertical direction V, because, in the latter case, it is the narrower links 18 b, 18 c, 18 e, 18 f which are biased.

Other embodiments of the links 18 are within the scope of the invention to obtain this variation in behavior.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 14, the exclusive compression zone 41, 51, 61 of the compression zone is obtained by assembling a textile film 12 on the textile base 10 with an adhesive 81 that is more elastic than the adhesive 82 used for assembling the film textile 12 of the postural support zone 42, 52, 53, 62. For this exclusive compression zone, one can use a heat-meltable film 81 having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the heat-meltable film 82 used for gluing the textile film in the postural support zone. In other words, the yield strength of the heat-meltable film 82 of the postural support zone is greater than the yield strength of the heat-meltable film 81 of the exclusive compression zone. Thus, the yield strength of the garment portion forming the postural support zone 42, 52, 53, 62 is greater than that of the garment portion forming the exclusive compression zone 41, 51, 61 due to the variation in modulus of elasticity of the heat-meltable film, irrespective of the predetermined direction of bias.

The use of a textile film 12 associated with an elastic adhesive 81, instead of a polyurethane film 14, for the exclusive compression zone makes the garment more air breathable, more pleasant to the touch, more aesthetic and more heat-protective. Indeed, a polyurethane film 14 is 100% impervious, whereas the textile film 12 associated with an elastic adhesive 81 is more ventilated. Furthermore, a polyurethane film 14 exposed to the sun tends to restore heat on the part of the body that is covered by the film. This is not the case with a textile film 12.

The same textile film can be used for the exclusive compression zone and the postural support zone, which facilitates the manufacture of the garment. Different textile films can also be used, which makes it possible to obtain a greater difference in yield strength between the exclusive compression zone and the postural support zone by selecting specific textile materials.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment in which the textile film is positioned between the textile base and the skin, whether for the exclusive compression zone or for the postural support zone. The textile film can also be positioned on the other, outer side of the textile base. Alternatively, the textile film can be positioned on both sides of the textile base depending on the targeted zones. For example, the film is internal in the support zone, whereas it is in the external in the exclusive compression zone, in a manner similar to the arrangement of FIG. 9.

By using an adhesive having different elastic characteristics, the elasticity of the various portions of a single compression zone can be varied. Specific locations of this compression zone, in which more support or increased flexibility is desired, can therefore be targeted.

The characteristics of the portions of the compression zone can be modified by varying the textile base. Indeed, it is the association of the textile base with its coating that characterizes the compression or the support of the portion of the compression zone.

Thus, the factors that make it possible to vary the yield strength of the garment portion constituting the postural support zone relative to that of the garment portion constituting the exclusive compression zone along at least one direction of bias may be:

-   -   the choice of the coating material 12, 14 covering a zone:         textile, polyurethane, etc.;     -   the patterns of the cuts 16 in each zone: hexagon, triangle,         diamond, rectangle, ellipsis, etc.;     -   the pattern orientation in each zone: horizontal H, vertical V;     -   the adhesive 81, 82 for fixing the coating 12, 14 on the textile         base 10:     -   heat-meltable film, impregnation, printing, knitting, etc.;     -   the choice of the material of the textile base 10.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments or examples of applications described. It applies to all sports for which a similar or equivalent problem arises.

In addition, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 

1. A sports garment structured and arranged to extend around at least one body member of the body of a wearer, said garment comprising: a textile base primarily to be worn in contact with the body; a compression zone surrounding the body member, the compression zone comprising at least one film affixed to the textile base; the film of the compression zone comprising a plurality of openings; the compression zone comprising: at least one exclusive compression zone; at least one postural support zone having a yield strength greater than a yield strength of the exclusive compression zone, along at least one direction of bias.
 2. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the yield strength of the postural support zone is greater than the yield strength of the exclusive compression zone, irrespective of direction of bias.
 3. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: said compression zone is structured and arranged to encircle a portion of a limb or a portion of the torso of the user; said postural support zone is structured and arranged to be positioned along the limb or a portion of the torso of the user without encircling the limb or the portion of the torso.
 4. A sports garment according claim 1, wherein: the exclusive compression zone includes a first elastic film made of polyurethane; the first elastic film is affixed by glue or is printed onto the textile base.
 5. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the exclusive compression zone includes a first textile film affixed to the textile base with an elastic adhesive.
 6. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the postural support zone includes a second textile film affixed by gluing to the textile base.
 7. A sports garment according to claim 6, wherein: a surface area proportion of the exclusive compression zone and/or the postural support zone not covered by the first film and/or the second film is between 40% and 80%.
 8. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the compression zone includes a plurality of films on one side of the textile base.
 9. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the compression zone includes a plurality of films; arranged on each of two sides of the textile base is a film of the plurality of films.
 10. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: said textile base is comprises at least one panel assembled to a second panel; the first film is affixed to the first panel and the second film is affixed to the second panel.
 11. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the garment is a pair of shorts or a pair of leggings; compression in an area of the compression zone is between 10 and 20 millimeters of mercury.
 12. A sports garment according to claim 1, wherein: the garment is a T-shirt; compression in an area of the compression zone is between 5 and 15 millimeters of mercury.
 13. A method of making a sports garment according to claim 1, said method comprising: preliminarily, making portions of the garment to have a flexible patterning, said flexible patterning forming a non-compressive or slightly compressive garment, once assembled; affixing a first coating to the exclusive compression zone of at least one portion of the garment; affixing a second coating in the postural support zone of at least one portion of the garment.
 14. A method of making a garment according to claim 13, wherein: the affixing of at least one of the first and second coatings is performed by gluing or printing or impregnating the coating on the textile base. 